PCI+ I/O
I know this subject has been tabooed by the moderator, but I think I remember Bill saying that it was ok to discuss theoretical aspects of Midrange server configuration...
I am currently working on a database server solution and putting the figures together for V490/890 2 node clusters just don't have sufficient I/O capacity for the solution. For attachment to the SAN I plan to run 2 * SG-XPCI2FC-EM2 and network 2 * X4444A on the primary system. Also there will be up to 8 Sun Fire T1000 application servers using the database, so I'll need scope for future upgrades. An alternitive idea has been to use an E4900 with 2 PCI+ I/O assemblies, one boat loaded with above cards as part of a primary domain and the other with 2 * SG-XPCI2FC-EM2 and one network card for the standby domain. So I need a basic of 4 * 66MHz in one I/O and 3 * 66MHz in the other. The systems configuration options in the pricelist only offer systems configured with one PCI+ assembly, can I run two on one server without compromising performance?
Next question, can I create application level cluster between domains using SC and SC application agents.
[1159 byte] By [
m-lennon] at [2007-11-25 22:48:15]
# 1
Yup, a bit beyond what I expect to see in these forums, but let's see if anyone wants to jump in here and contribute.You've sparked some curiosity from me, at least.<img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_cool.gif" border=0 alt="Cool">
Bill at 2007-7-5 17:03:37 >
# 2
Thanks Bill, hopefully I'll get some info from you guys that are actually supporting the systems in the field. I looked through the handbook and there was no reference to using two +boats in one system. BTW were you involved with any of the early production T1000/2000 systems? Thread city!
# 4
By SC do you mean System Controller or Sun Cluster? Please tell me you are not considering having a 2 node Cluster using 2 Domains in the same 4900.
You have to chuckle looking at prtdiag or psrinfo from a T2000. CPU0 - CPU31 for a single "CPU" system. Oracle will get rich.
jds2n at 2007-7-5 17:03:37 >
# 5
Yes John, I was talking about Sun Cluster, I need to get application and hardware failover. I am not experienced with the midrange systems, so at this stage I just putting some ideas together, can the system controller provide application layer failover? I'm looking a primary domain with 4 UltraSPARC IV+ and a secondary domain 4 UltraSPARC IV. If the primary domain fails I need MaxDB to recover on the secondary ( standby ) domain.
I don't have to worry about Oracle, we offer mainly MySQL and MaxDB which both opensource and multi threaded where as Oracle is not in standard config. T series look good, but I don't think I'll see anything with more that 8 cores initially.
# 6
After a little more research I found that there is in fact a single point of failure when implenting a primary and backup domain within a segment in the same system - the powerplane. Thanks John, I actually originally just looked at whether Sun Cluster was supported between domains.
Not sure if I'll go back to the drawing board with this though, perhaps a hetergenous cluster with a reman E4800 or smaller as the backup server could work, but then, space and price become a major argument against using midrange systems for this solution. E2900 and V1280 could work, but this would mean using older lower speed HBAs which could prove very complicated. I suppose I should post a question, are Sun going to increase performance of the current I/O boards offered on the V490/890? Could the current fireplane/backplane handle increased I/O?
# 7
Martin, I'm not sure about the PCI I/O support for the 490/890 but I was just reading the 5.19.x Release Notes for the Mid Range servers (not the 2900 or 1280) (Sorry Bill) and it looks like they put "hooks" in for the PCI X I/O Boards which I belive will support 100 / 66 / 33 MHz PCI cards in the future. As soon as you purchase a PCI+ they'll release the PCI X and it's back to the drawing board for you. It seems that it would be a rather large Upgrade, if offered, to the 490/890. I'm too lazy to open up the PDFs they refer to as they are rather large.
<a href="http://docs.sun.com/source/819-1270-10/rnbody.html" target="_blank">http://docs.sun.com/source/819-1270-10/rnbody.html</a>
jds2n at 2007-7-5 17:03:37 >
# 8
Having looked further into the Sun Cluster configuration documentation I have realized that Sun Cluster is supported within the same server if the server is configured with two partitions ( segments ). The documentation references the E6900 and recommends that two CPU/memory boards be used in each partition ( segment ). Despite the fact the this will increase the cost of the solution substantially, the money saved on commercial database licenses would buy two E6900 anyway!
